Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-10
The Battle Of Balls Bluff.
. editor of the Alexandria Gazette

scme &c years ago by the Legislature of that
State in which gold medal vas voted to
General Evans, for distinguished galantry
at the battle of Leesburg, has called forth
criticisms from various newspapers, both in
the North and South. 1 have read several
of the former az we'll as your oYn and have
been forciby struck by the truthful COM
ments OF an article which appeared in the
Worcester Spy, written by an officer who
was captured in that battle. He says, among
other true statements, that Gen. Hunton
was the hero of that fight, as he undouDted-
" was; and which is we'll known to hun
dreds now living, many of whom were par
Elephants 10 the battle. As no true account
of the battle OF Leesbnrg, or Balls Bluff, has
ever been published, l will endeavor to give
q short account Of it. There are but few
who know how important bearing the
issue Of the battle Of Leesburg had upon the
ensuing campaign. Had Gen. Stone been
successful in defeating the Confederate force
opposed to him and established himself on
the South bank OF the Potomac, the advance
to Richmond had been determined on by
the route from Leesburg to Fredericksburg
along the old Carolina road. On the morn
ing Of the Dist of October, 1861, information
was received by GeD. Evans, who was in
command of the Confederate forces at Lees.
burg, that the enemy had crossed to the
south side OF the Potomac in force. He i'm
mediately dispatched courier to COL Hun
ton. who was in command of the Sth Va. in
fantry, 10 report to him with his regiment
at double quick. This was accordingly
done. and when the regiment reached Gen.
Evans it was pretty we'll blown, as they had
covered about two miles in some twenty
five minutes COL Hunton was ordered to
form bis regiment in line, enter the wood
and tind the enemy. This was accordingly
done, and as the 9Th disappeared from sight
Gen. Evans turned TO his staff and remark
ed, "Those damned Virginians have gone in
there at o pretty lively gait, but tell you
thcy will come out of there damned sight
quicker, and when the enemy pursues them
across those feds will open on them with
my artillery Gen. Evans occupied during
the day an earthwork on the bill near the
house Of Mr. Thomas Edwards, named in
honor of him, Fort Evans, and had with him
two brass pieces Of Rogers battery. Gen.
Evans reputation as military prophet was
not established owing to the fact, as stated
in a letter Of member of the Richmond
HowiZere, that 'the Sth Va. didn't retreat
worth cent and were such damned fools rs
not TO know when they were whipped" It
was oWing,to no eDdeavor of bis, however,
that his prediction was not verified, as he suf-
fered some 300 to engage force OF ten times
their number for many hours, and though
several applications for reinforcements We're
made by Col. Hunton, he persistently re-
used to send any, although three regiments
Of Mississippians were anxious to join us.
But "rcUenOuS q nos m0utOnS." We left
the Sih Virginia just after entering the
wood. We had not proceeded far before we
encountered the enemy's skirmishers, who
quickly retreated, after killing member of
Co. c. We met with no serious opposition
until we reached small cleared field which
ran down 10 tie buff, under The cover Of
which the enemy had crossed. Here we
found them in strong force, with two pieces
of artillery, and we were soon engaged in
fierce conflict. A slight rise in the ground
some twenty feet from the edge of the field
afforded us considerable protection, and our
Colonel taking advantage Of it, formed his
line behind it, and it was owing to this that
cur loss was so small in comparison with
that Of The enemy. In fact, the entire casu-
allts in the regiment occurred in three COM
panits, those of Captains Edmund and Wm.
Berkeley and Alex. Grayson, being the
three companies Immediately opposite the
clearing, those on their right and left being
protected by the wood. COL Hunton sent
Major Norborne Berkely twice to Gen. Ev-
ans, asking for reinforcements, without sue
cess, but upon sending him the third time,
With the information that our ammunition
WAS almost exhausted, Gen. Evans re.
marked to his stall, "Yonder comes that
damned bandbox Major again. l suppose
we will have to send reinforccments." He
accordingly ordered the 18th Mississippi,
under COL Burt and the lob, under Col.
Featherstone to our support. Before the
arrival of these the enemy had commenced
retiring to the crossing, and Col. Hunton,
believing the time had arrived for charging
them, informed Co.'s Burt and Featherstone
of his opinion. The charge was accordingly
made, the Sth charging across the field, the
10Th next on their right and the 18th on the
extreme right. Col. Burt, coming suddenly
upon force OF the enemy, received a volley
that killed him and number,o of his men. a
casualty greater than that sustained by the
Sth in the whole days fighting. The S:h
were more fortunate, losing but few men in
the charge. and capturing the two brass
pieces that had been posted in the field, anu
from which they had received some injury.
also number of prisoners. Night was now
falling, and as the enemy had entirely dis
appeared it was supposed he had succeeded
in recrossing the river. 1t. Charles Bsrke.
ley was detailed with force Of ten men to
picket the battle field and his friend E. V.
White, who afterwards acquired high rep
utation as a daring colonel of cavalry,
volunteered to bear him company. We
were marched to Fort Evans, and after eat
ing our joint supper and dinner laid down
on the ground to take our much needed
rest. Just then E. V. White came up and
hastily enquiring for Col. Hunton was in
formed that the Colonel had ridden into
Leesburg to report to Gen. Evans, leaving
1t. Col. Charles B. Tebbs in command Of
the regiment. He informed Col. 1'ebbs that
he and Lieut.. Berkely, in supplying the
wounded of the enemy with water, had de-
scended path down the bluff and found
themselves among at least thousand of the
enemy, who were crossing the river as fast
as couple of boats could convex them,